Chapter 21 — I Never Made It to Nam Thanh With You

I wore only the crescent moon hairpin that had belonged to my grandmother. The image reflected in the mirror seemed like that of a stranger. No longer was I tethered to the specific color palettes chosen by Co Nghien Le. No longer was I required to maintain a submissive, obedient appearance just to appease Ha Man Nhu. And, most importantly, I no longer carried a shred of expectation. My father stood waiting outside the door.

Are you ready?

I am.

Are you nervous?

Just a little.

My father smiled faintly and patted my shoulder. That is only natural. It is the first time you have stood up to defend yourself; everyone feels a tremor of fear at such a moment.

When the car arrived at the Te Nguyet Pavilion, the parking lot was already overflowing. Guests were everywhere. Beyond our own relatives, there were school teachers, project partners, and even local media representatives. Ha Man Nhu stood by the entrance, greeting guests in person. The moment her gaze landed on my dress, her smile froze.

Kien Nguyet, where is the dress I picked out for you?

It did not fit.

Her eyes drifted upward to the hairpin in my hair. She must have remembered that Tong Uyen Ninh had worn it once, for her expression turned even more strained. Today is a significant day. You really should have dressed in something more vibrant and auspicious.

My father spoke up on my behalf: She likes this one.

Ha Man Nhu could not complain further. She offered a forced smile: Nghien Le is waiting for you inside.

I stepped into the West Pavilion. Under the moonlight window, Co Nghien Le stood in a sharply tailored black suit. Tong Uyen Ninh stood by his side. As a co-creator of the imagery, she wore the event organizer’s ID badge pinned to her chest. Upon seeing me, a look of palpable relief washed over Co Nghien Le’s face.

I thought you might not come.

I promised that I would.

He approached me, his gaze lingering on my hairpin. This dress is quite beautiful, he said, his tone carrying a hint of ingratiating caution. I remained silent. He lowered his voice, urgency creeping into his words: Regarding the situation with Uyen Ninh, I have already spoken to her. After today’s banquet, I will keep my distance. If you want that summer camp spot, just take it. As for the North West University application, we can discuss that again.

I looked at him directly. My choices cannot be altered.

You can always retake the exams next year.

I thought I had misheard him. Co Nghien Le gripped my wrist. Take the exams again next year. We can still go to Nam Thanh together. Kien Nguyet, I am prepared to announce our engagement in front of everyone here today. He spoke with the air of a man who had made a monumental sacrifice. All you have to do is stay.

I slowly pried his fingers from my wrist. Co Nghien Le, you have always believed that what I wanted was simply to be chosen by you.

Is that not the case? he fired back without a second of hesitation.

I shook my head. No, it is not.

Inside the banquet hall, Ha Man Nhu’s voice suddenly rang out. Holding a microphone, she smiled and invited everyone to take their seats. The inauguration ceremony was about to begin. Co Nghien Le glanced at his watch. Let’s go inside first. Do not cause us to lose face today.

As he turned, I caught a glimpse of a red velvet box peeking from his breast pocket. It was not the box that held the jade pendant; it was smaller. Surely, a ring lay inside. He still labored under the delusion that if he presented me with a ring before the crowd, I would obediently return to the position he had pre-determined for me. The inauguration ceremony commenced. Ha Man Nhu stood upon the podium, speaking passionately about the restoration process of the Te Nguyet Pavilion. The massive screen flickered to life. The first image displayed was the crescent moon window of the West Pavilion.

The success of this project and its smooth transition into operation would not have been possible without the dedication of the younger generation, she announced. Especially Nghien Le. He has shadowed the team and learned from them since high school, proposing countless innovative ideas.

Co Nghien Le sat in the front row. As the applause erupted, he turned, out of pure habit, to look at me.